Pakistan’s Judoka Shah Hussain out of Rio Olympics in first appearance

Published August 11, 2016
Artem Bloshenko of Ukraine and Hussain Shah of Pakistan compete. — Reuters
Artem Bloshenko of Ukraine and Hussain Shah of Pakistan compete. — Reuters

KARACHI: Judoka Shah Hussain became the third Pakistani to bow out of Rio Olympics in first appearance at the event.

After getting a bye in the first round, Hussain failed to impress and suffered defeat at the hands of Ukraine’s Artem Bloshenko in the second round of Men’s 100kg Judo event.

Hussain’s elimination has dented Pakistan’s hopes to secure a medal. He was a solid contender in Pakistan’s seven-member contingent to win a medal.

He had won a silver in 2016 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and bronze in 2014 Asian Games in South Korea. Hussain also won a gold in South Asian Games held in Shillong, India, in February this year.

Hussain, son of the medal-winning pugilist Hussain Shah, was the only athlete who sealed a place at the coveted multi-sports event under continental quota.

Artem Bloshenko of Ukraine and Hussain Shah of Pakistan compete. —Reuters
Artem Bloshenko of Ukraine and Hussain Shah of Pakistan compete. —Reuters

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allows national Olympic committees of various countries with few or without any athletes to participate in the coveted sports events by offering wild cards to their athletes.

A player or a team that has not qualified through the normal competitive channel receives a wildcard entry. In Olympics too, wildcards are offered to countries, whose athletes fail to meet the qualification standards.

Earlier, shooter Minhal Sohail and swimmer Haris Bandey also failed to put up a good show and bowed out in initial rounds. It is the first time Pakistan’s national hockey team is not featuring in the mega event as it failed to qualify.

On Friday (August 12), Pakistani shooter Ghulam Mustafa Bashir will take part in Men’s 25m rapid fire pistol event and swimmer Lianna Swan will be seen in action in Women’s 50m freestyle. Athletes Mehboob Ali and Najma Parveen will also be featuring in athletics event.

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